Advice needed on tow for BEF 2pdr

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Unfortunately the Vickers' machine gun site has fallen victim to the Photobucket debacle.

It has the Dragon (which you cannot see because of Photobucket) but some photographs have reappeared so there is hope.
http://www.vickersmachinegun.org.uk/transport-tankettes.htm

[Ultravanillasmurf]

This one or something simliar? A British Army marking, still seen occasionally today. http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb%5Earmy.html

No, it is a similar style to the concentric circles, four stylised swords pointing inwards at 45 degrees (New Vanguard 110 page 5).

[Ultravanillasmurf]

I am going to start a new thread on the Carden Loyd so the original question and it's answers are not swamped.

[Etranger]

Just for completeness, here's some more detail of the howitzer trailer http://tankdevelopment.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/trailer-37-howitzer-1930.html

[Arlequín]

The concentric circles are part of the 'old' tactical symbols set, replaced in '34 (or therabouts) by solid symbols and ultimately by outlines in 1940 (iirc).

It consisted of circle, square, triangle and diamond, just like the later patterns, although I think HQ vehicles just had 'HQ', as there were four companies in each RTC battalion. This is from memory btw, so don't shoot me if I'm out a touch here; the gist of it is right though.

 

Be wary of 'posed' photos, the Army had units to try stuff out before they were purchased (or not) and worked closely with Vickers, who had their own 'army men' to sit in vehicles for export promo work. "Let's see if it can move a 3.7 inch howitzer" does not necessarily mean "let's give them to 3.7 inch howitzer units", but maybe "Hey Bolivia! Tired of burros refusing to move? Try one of these!".

 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

There is a link on the Wikipedia"references" section to the US "Popular Science" magazine about mechanisation of artillery that uses a photograph of a Carden Loyd tankette. Frankly it sounds like a puff piece from Vickers' marketing department.

[Etranger]

Vickers had a very active marketing department. Given the number of countries that ended up with Vickers products, one suspects that it was money well spent.

[Arlequín]

There is a link on the Wikipedia"references" section to the US "Popular Science" magazine about mechanisation of artillery that uses a photograph of a Carden Loyd tankette. Frankly it sounds like a puff piece from Vickers' marketing department.

As it's a MG carrier of 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, it wouldn't be towing any 'big field guns' anywhere. They probably didn't have a photo of either of these;

DragonMk I


Dragon Mk II

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Okay, so what is the Horstmann suspension vehicle on page 1?

[Arlequín]

The Light Dragon II. Just like you had medium tanks and light tanks, there were medium and light tractors.

The British Army between the wars, accept it, just don't try to understand it. 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

The British Army between the wars, accept it, just don't try to understand it. 

No change there then ^__^.

[Thunderchicken]

Gentlemen, thank you for the informative replies and what is a very interesting discussion   

[Vintage Wargaming]

There is Pathe News footage of the Carden Loyds pulling 3.7s, I don't have urls with me but it can be found (I think) on. Oath my Vintage Wargaming and Interwar Tank Development blogs

[Arlequín]

In 1934 'A Battery' aka 'The Chestnut Troop', I Brigade RHA, were the first RHA unit to mechanise. They gave up their horses and 13 pdrs in readiness to be re-equipped with Light Dragons and 'modernised' 3.7" howitzers.

I'm guessing there was a delay between the two events, during which time VCL towed standard 3.7" howitzers on trailers subbed for those for training purposes perhaps? Certainly I'm struggling to find mention of a unit formally equipped with them from my meagre sources.